Chapter 1176: Summer Solstice (Ask for monthly tickets at the beginning of the month, two-in-one)

The sky is clear for ten thousand miles, the sun is just right.

The golden bricks on the palace hall reflect the young man. The Taibai long shirt has no folds or wrinkles, the black long hair is meticulous. This morning, the young man's hair was soaked and washed by Long Eying herself with soapberry water, then combed and managed more than a dozen times with a dense comb that could scrape off lice, each strand bundled, caged into a white jade crown, and the light green stubble on his face was also carefully shaved clean.

Holding the jade axis, receiving the precious seal.

Reborn, flying to heaven in broad daylight.

The wind and clouds change the clan, the sun and moon increase their splendor.

"Clatter."

The banners flutter, the stagnant breath rises again, all the officials are surprised by this unheard-of "bulk" enfeoffment. Before they can look at each other and communicate, the Chief Eunuch holds up the tray, and on the tray is the ivory-axis decree.

The Prime Minister picks it up at both ends, slowly unfolds it, and sings to the Heavenly Steps again. Everyone suppresses their restlessness and bows their heads again.

The newcomer steps forward.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

I have heard that to establish the ultimate governance of the world, one must worship the way of filial piety and righteousness; to honor virtue and express merit, one should promote the grace of shade. King of Huai Qu has attained the Saint Realm, guarding the Jiangchuan, his family and teachers have all made contributions to teaching and assistance, how can I forget? Special grace is issued to show the style of transformation.

Princess Consort of Huai, Lady Long Long Eying, hails from the gate of the Huai River Dragon Lord; her feminine virtue is refined and beautiful, and her inner chamber is filled with essence. During the time when the Prince of Huai was a hidden dragon, she walked with him in simple robes and guarded him through poverty. Now that she is matched and titled Princess Consort, she is bestowed one nine-pheasant four-phoenix crown, one set of red silk-woven pheasant robes, one hu of coral and bright pearls, and two pairs of East Sea jade discs...

Teacher Yang Yang Dongxiong, formerly a brave general of the Western Army, has made many military contributions. He retired to set up a school to teach students, educating the hometown. Especially in taking the King of Huai as a disciple, passing on literature and martial arts, and teaching a loyal and heroic heart. Now that the disciple has become a Saint, the teacher's way is even more glorious. Specially granted the title of 'Zhaowu Sir,' rewarded with a Qilin robe and jade belt. Respectfully granted the 'Grandmaster of the Country' plaque. Granted the rank of Martial Virtue Grandee, permitted to build a living shrine in the hometown... Respect this."

"Clatter."

The foam in the willow wood basin overflows. The towel is dipped in cool water, wrung dry, and applied to the face, wiping away the summer heat and the sweat on the forehead. Chen Chen Zhaoan exhales a long breath, lets his grandson Chen Tongmin take away the water basin, stands up holding a small table, and wants to go to the well to fish for a watermelon to quench the heat.

"How is the summer tax this year? There shouldn't be anyone in the town who can't pay it, right?"

"Grandfather, rest assured, everyone has prepared it early, there definitely isn't. Liang Ye is capable, exempted us from taxes in Pingyang for three years, until last year's summer tax. Last year we paid the autumn tax, this year's summer tax is the second batch... If you don't eat, drink, whore, or gamble, the days in the town are good enough. Which family doesn't have some savings? Just waiting for someone to come and collect grain today, the situation should be about the same as last year's autumn tax..."

Before the words fell, there was noise outside.

Chen Chen Zhaoan frowns: "What happened outside, why is it so noisy..."

"I'll go see."

"Bang!"

The door was knocked open, and the old man stumbled in, howling: "Father, it's not good! It's not good! There's a fight outside. Hundreds of people, holding rakes and hoes, are all blocking the pier! The grain official was knocked on the head and is bleeding!"

Chen Chen Zhaoan and Chen Tongmin are shocked.

"What's going on? Why did they fight? Did the grain official collect too much or what?" Chen Chen Zhaoan asks hurriedly.

"It's not that the grain official collected too much, it's that someone doesn't want to pay!"

"Doesn't want to pay? Can't pay? Is someone in the family sick?" Chen Chen Zhaoan lets his grandson Chen Tongmin get the yellow pear wood cane sent by Liang Qu, and is helped by his son to walk quickly outside.

"They just don't want to pay! Liang Ye is capable, exempted us from taxes in Pingyang for three years..."

"Grandfather, the cane is here!"

Chen Chen Zhaoan grips the yellow pear wood cane: "You continue!"

Chen Chen Zhaoan's son, an old man who is also sixty this year, wipes his sweat: "In May, didn't the imperial court say that Liang Ye attained the Dao and became a Saint, a great feast for the world, for seven full days? People in the village talked about Liang Ye being enfeoffed as a King, and that he would continue to exempt taxes."

"This is not false, but so what? Even if taxes are exempted, they have to be calculated from this year's autumn tax. The summer tax is too late. Could it be that the decree has already come down? Someone wants to start calculating from the summer tax?"

"The decree hasn't come down, but Father, have you forgotten? Every year, not only are taxes exempted, but the imperial court also writes off arrears! Twice already, a bunch of damn people have gained experience, seized this point, and don't intend to pay this year's summer tax, wanting to drag this sum into arrears, just waiting for the imperial court to write it off, earning an extra half a year! Originally, only a few people took the lead, but once someone did this, everyone felt unbalanced, felt they were at a loss, and simply didn't pay at all. The grain official got angry, said a few harsh words and scolded people, and was blocked in the alley and beaten. You should go and see quickly."

"Anyway, we were harassed for two months and gained nothing. Originally, it was just a few people taking the lead, but with others doing the same, everyone felt unbalanced and cheated. They simply went all out and refused to pay anything. The grain official got angry, said some harsh words, and scolded people, so he was cornered in an alley and beaten. You should go take a look quickly."

"Father!"

"Grandfather!"

"Quick, quick, carry me there!"

Chen Tongmin is quick-eyed and fast-handed, lifting Chen Chen Zhaoan onto his back, following his father's directions, rushing into the alley where fighting and killing were heard, shouting: "The old clan leader is here! The village elder is here! Stop fighting! Stop!"

The old clan leader and village elder, who also presided over the great sacrifices every year, only stopped presiding in the last two years due to old age. Chen Chen Zhaoan's prestige still exists. The noisy alley quickly quieted down.

Chen Chen Zhaoan landed on the ground, walking quickly through the crowd, seeing the three clerks collecting grain in the alley.

Pingyang Prefecture is a top-tier prosperous place, and the clerks who come to the town to collect grain have fourth-realm strength. However, Yixing Town is not what it used to be. Every year, teenagers take subsidies to enter the Huaiyin Martial Arts Hall to practice martial arts. Several clerks were stunned and beaten until their heads were broken and bleeding, lying on the ground dying.

"Tongmin, Tongmin!"

"Grandfather!"

"Quick, send them to the medical center, no, don't move them yet, be careful that the bones pierce the lungs, you go and invite the physician from Changchun Hall, quick!"

"Yes!"

Chen Chen Zhaoan clutches his chest, slowing down again and again, the cane in his hand trembling and pointing at the crowd: "Liang Ye is enfeoffed as a King in the capital, received by the Emperor, and you are here losing face for him for a few stones of grain! Losing face!"

"Old clan leader, you can't be indiscriminate, it was this dog-day who scolded people first!"

The young man hadn't finished speaking when the yellow pear wood cane hit his head.

Chen Chen Zhaoan chased and swung the cane, all hitting the head, cursing: "What is our town called? What is Liang Ye's title? Yixing, Yixing!

'If the Dao is about to be practiced, people will compete to praise. People will value fame, people will spread voices, people will be honored,' I know and remember the words of the academy.

Liang Ye paid for you to study, sent you to learn martial arts, and this is what you learned. Learning to be slippery, learning to deliberately be in arrears and wait for a write-off? Who took the lead in this matter? Stand out!"

The young man fell to the ground, not daring to resist.

The others looked at each other, no one spoke.

"Good, good! Your wings are hard, I am old and can't manage you, fine, I won't manage, wait for Liang Ye to return to Yixing to cure you!"

The crowd was suddenly panicked, pointing out one after another.

"Him, it's him!"

"And him!"

"They don't want to pay! Village elder, I saw them not paying, so I didn't pay. Why can they pay half a year less?"

Everyone pointed to the leading men. Chen Chen Zhaoan narrowed his eyes when he saw one of them: "Liang Liu! I knew it was you! You are just like your father! Same virtue!"

Liang Liu shrank his head, stammering, but still stubborn: "My family really can't pay the grain, what can I do? They want to learn, what does it have to do with me? What can I do? Oh, practicing martial arts, studying, usually all the benefits have nothing to do with me, leading to my family being poor and unable to pay grain, why come to find trouble with me? Don't bully people like this."

"Yes, that's right, we just can't pay!"

"No grain, one life, take me to dig the canal!"

The crowd was excited. Not taking advantage is a bastard. They were actually led by Liang Liu to create momentum, forcing Chen Chen Zhaoan, and the sound wave drowned out the scolding.

The remaining majority looked at the two waves of people colliding and accusing each other, leaning against the wall, neither wanting to pay grain nor feeling that the matter was glorious. A good tax exemption, turned into this.

Chen Chen Zhaoan felt dizzy, never expecting that he would not be able to suppress these young people.

Suddenly.

The scene quieted down.

The noisy alley stopped, everyone looked at the alley entrance, and Liang Liu shrank his head, burrowing into the crowd.

"Click, click, click..."

Stones jumped.

The sound of wheels crushing the blue stone bricks rolled over. Chen Qingjiang was driving a donkey cart to deliver grain to the Shangrao pier, just passing by the alley entrance.

"Old clan leader, what's going on here? Making such a big noise?"

"Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough."

Chen Chen Zhaoan coughed violently. Chen Qingjiang hurriedly jumped off the cart to pat the old clan leader's back: "What's wrong? Everyone gathered here? Isn't it grain collection today? Changed the place?"

Chen Chen Zhaoan waved his hand, knowing what was going on in his heart. Liang Liang Guangtian is a showpiece, with reality but no name. This is Liang Qu's "uncle." Looking at the whole Yixing Town, now only Chen Qingjiang can suppress this group of people. He swung his cane at the crowd: "Pay grain, everyone go pay grain."

No one moved.

Chen Qingjiang was puzzled: "The grain collectors didn't come? Why is everyone not going?"

Chen Chen Zhaoan's cane hit the ground heavily: "Pay grain!"

The crowd moved.

Chen Qingjiang was confused. Wasn't it quite lively here just now? Why was there no sound when he came over?

"... Foster mother Yang family Xu Shi Wan, since she is the teacher's wife of the King of Huai, her grace is like a kind mother. In the past, she raised the orphan with the general, raising heroes in the grass; encouraging lofty aspirations in the cold window. Now the foster son has become a dragon, and the kind light is comforting. Specially enfeoffed as 'Zhenyi Lady,' granted a dove cane and golden crown...

Liang father... posthumously enfeoffed...

Liang mother... posthumously enfeoffed...

Liang grandfather... posthumously enfeoffed...

Liang grandmother...

Alas! Receiving the mandate of heaven, it is truly due to virtue. You should each follow the rituals and degrees, and forever shine with grace and glory. The King of Huai should strictly guard the way of a son, although he is in the Saint position, he must not forget the grace of his parents. Respect this."

Enfeoffed according to merit, glory reaching the ancestors.

Clouds drift, golden light shines for ten thousand miles!

The decree was read in the Tianchen Hall, and the music of "Zhonghe" was played.

"Pass!"

"Pass!"

"Pass!"

The decree was received and held, the three words passed in succession, the eunuch held it high above his head with both hands, raised the cloud tray, walked quickly down the middle steps of the imperial road, and turned to the Meridian Gate of the Imperial City.

The Heavenly Feather Guards were lined up, and the officials of the Court of Ceremonial Rites knelt and received the decree facing north, placed it on the decree case, and then read it out, announcing it to heaven and earth.

After the reading, the decree was placed in the cloud tray, and another was held by the Langzhong of the Ritual System Department of the Ministry of Rites. Surrounded by honor guards, the canopy covering the top, it went out along the central imperial road, straight to the left gate of the Imperial City. The elders of the capital, envoys from various countries, scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants all knelt to listen to the decree, reaching all the people.

After the ceremony, the scribe respectfully recorded it on yellow silk, called "Teng-Huang."

Outside the capital, the scouts at the post station ate and drank their fill, prepared fast horses, received the "Teng-Huang," tucked it into their bosoms, mounted their horses, and spread it to the world.

Throwing a stone splashes ripples, suddenly rising waves, spreading from the center of the capital to every province, every prefecture, every county in Great Shun, waves surging.

Jianghuai rises, Liang Qu is King!

From now on, step steadily to the sky clouds. Don't boast about the three thousand miles of water system, just sing for the ten thousand families!

The jade disc shines, reflecting light.

"Enfeoffing Marquis Baron Xingyi with thirteen ports, and only collecting seven percent of the benefits, is unheard of. In this way, isn't the King of Huai's enfeoffment land 'broken and fragmented'?"

"Not only that, this official has never even heard of most of these ports. Only Yixing is known, because of the Marquis's title. Could it be that they are all small ports?"

The crowd disperses from the palace, talking in twos and threes.

Inside the Qinzheng Hall, incense is curling.

The palace maids stand by, Liang Qu holds the King's seal, staring at the enfeoffment map, his expression dazed.

A total of thirteen red dots are circled on the map, both in Southern Zhili and not in Southern Zhili, both on the Huai River and not on the Huai River...

"Is Lord Liang surprised by this enfeoffment?"

"Your Majesty!" Liang Qu recovers, seeing the Holy Emperor enter from the side hall, bowing respectfully, admitting frankly, "Surprised."

Never expected that enfeoffment could be given like this. An ordinary enfeoffed king's land is the scope of a prefecture, and according to the orientation, each has its own differences. In the northwest border, the land is large, and in the rich land of the Central Plains, it is small, such as the King of Xu Yue, whose land is in Ningjiang Prefecture, belonging to the smaller category.

Therefore, the size of the enfeoffment land and the level of prosperity are often an intuitive manifestation of an enfeoffed king's strength. Chong Wang changing to Nanhai County was an "upgrade." Whether an enfeoffed king is strong or not can also be seen directly from the title.

But no matter how it is divided, there has never been such a "broken and fragmented" precedent!

Thirteen ports in the upper and lower reaches of the Huai River, combined from the map, one port combined with its affiliated places is one county. Combined, it is exactly the size of a prefecture!

This "total" prefecture of land is Liang Qu's enfeoffment land!

If it were someone else, they would definitely scold their mother. Under heaven, how can there be such enfeoffment? Broken and fragmented, running from east to west, the place is not big, thirteen county towns, however, in Liang Qu's eyes, thirteen enfeoffment lands, thirteen red dots, are actually connected with the Huai River, it is one color, all connected by the Huai River waterway, becoming a whole piece.

In this way, this "King of Huai" is truly a bit unworthy of the name. There are some in the northwest, and some in the southeast. It is probably because the distribution is too scattered, and there are some everywhere, so whatever it is called is not appropriate, so it borrows the Huai name of the Huai River.

"Is it more surprise, or more satisfaction?"

"After the surprise, only satisfaction remains!" Liang Qu is radiant, "Unfortunately, if Your Majesty had told the subject the third choice earlier, the subject could have been happy for another month."

The Chief Eunuch deliberately jokes: "The King of Huai can't always be happy. If you were happy early, wouldn't you be less happy today?"

Liang Qu shakes his head: "Chief Eunuch, this is wrong. Knowing a month earlier is the joy of anticipation. Just like a letter sent from home, when the letter is on the road, it becomes the joy of harvest when it arrives. These are two kinds of joy."

"Makes sense." The Chief Eunuch nods in response, "In this way, the King of Huai is indeed less happy because of His Majesty."

The Holy Emperor laughs loudly.

"Does Lord Liang know why I enfeoffed it this way?"

"It is naturally because of favoritism toward the subject, pet to the point of surprise, grace so deep that I don't know how to repay. The subject dare not forget."

"I know your thoughts, and I also know that you are reluctant to leave Jianghuai. However, enfeoffment within Southern Zhili is absolutely impossible, so I separated Yixing, not as a prefecture, but as a pier for you. In this way, the resistance will be much smaller."

"But the ministers in the cabinet still say that the laws of the ancestors cannot be changed, so I cut it again, dividing the tax revenue, and only then did they agree. Pingyang built Jiangchuan, and before Jiangchuan was merged, the number of counties was thirteen, so I gave you thirteen ports."

"Ten thousand thanks to Your Majesty!"

Liang Qu is full of excitement.

The greatest benefit of being an enfeoffed king is naturally the independence of governance, and all the income within the enfeoffment land belongs to the enfeoffed king himself.

The current situation is that there is governance power, and a large part of the economic income is divided out, but what if it is divided out?

With a pier, and relying on his own ability, is he afraid that he can't earn money from the remaining thirty percent?

Damn it, what is personality charm? This is personality charm. If one day someone jumps out to fight for the throne, can he not come out to argue and support?

"There is one thing, I must inform you in advance."

Liang Qu bows: "Your Majesty, please speak."

"These thirteen ports still need to be separated from the local area, re-delineate the county boundaries, merge towns and villages. This matter is not a matter of a day, it requires multiple departments to investigate. It will take at least several months to complete. And the ports are not ready-made, they are shallow water areas. As far as the current situation is concerned, they are actually not suitable for building ports, but they win in having many people."

"What's difficult about this? It's nothing more than the two words 'construction.' Meet the mountains and open the mountains, meet the water and build bridges! If Your Majesty really gave the subject thirteen world-first ports, that would be boring. Doing some practical things, there is no sense of harvest at all."

Shallow water?

One dragon-slaying slash and it will be deep, absolutely suitable for docking ships. The most critical thing is 【Vortex Escape Path】!

This is the real big killer. The water spiders rented from the River-Lake Office will be very useful.

The Frog King, the Turtle King, the Sea Master, and other demon kings went to the Southern Frontier, and the matter of the waterway has already been exposed. To this day, there is no need to cover it up. At the same time, without Xuan-Huang Qi, it is impossible to transmit Martial Saints, which is also a disguised condition of trust.

Liang Qu can't wait to show his grand plans and engage in construction.

These will all be his places, he can do whatever he wants!

Eight hundred years, he can even open interstellar warships.

Seeing Liang Qu's impatience, the Holy Emperor didn't keep him, letting him go to celebrate with his relatives.

"Afterward, go to the Imperial Horse Prison to choose horses yourself. Three days later, visit the temple, tell the ancestors, and go see the Martial Immortal with me. During these three days, burn incense and bathe as usual."

"Yes!"

Stepping on white cloud boots, stepping out of the Qinzheng Hall.

The sky is wide and the earth is broad, white clouds are wandering.

Liang Qu's temples are flying, he sees many people standing in the square, waiting silently, "Princess of Huai" Long Long Eying, "Zhaowu Sir" Yang Yang Dongxiong, "Zhenyi Lady" Xu Shi, a group of senior brothers and sisters, "Earl of Jingbo" Su Guishan, "Earl of Anxiang" Xu Xu Yuelong, Xu Xu Wenzhu, Ke Ko Wenbin, Xiang Fangsu...

All are the roads they came from.

Stepping down the steps.

Countless emotions are brewing in it.

Liang Qu feigns wiping tears, steps forward slowly, sighing faintly.

Everyone is stunned, and then hears.

"The lonely... it's cold at the top."

"Damn!"

【Biography of the King of Huai】:

"Liang Qu, from Yixing, Pingyang, was lonely and poor when young but had a chivalrous spirit. He studied under the former general of the Western Army, Yang Yang Dongxiong. He once received the grace of a meal from a neighbor and repaid it with a thousand gold, raising his son to be talented...

... At eighteen, he broke the Hunting Tiger record, at twenty-two, he broke the Perfected Form Realm. At that time, the Northern Court invaded, he went out of the Great Snow Mountain alone, beheaded one of the eight beasts; fought in Heyuan, killed two more beasts, and the northern border was peaceful.

At twenty-seven, he pacified the Southern Frontier chaos, arrived at the battlefield, beheaded fifteen Grandmasters, in less than ten days, destroyed the enemy and beheaded more than thirty Grandmasters, captured Red Water, subdued Black Water, recovered Lingnan, the next month, attained the Dao and became a Saint, then wiped out the Water Mansion Demon Empress and the King of Chu, collected twenty-eight dragon vessels. Promoted to King of Huai, opened a government in Jianghuai. The Saint Realm was attained, and the mountains and rivers were forever solid."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1177 =====

(End of Chapter)